Hong Kong seeks developers for joint cross-border railway project to Shenzhen

Hong Kong authorities will start gauging developers’ interest in constructing a planned cross-border railway in the northwest New Territories later this year, according to the city’s transport minister.

Mable Chan, the secretary for transport and logistics, also said on Sunday the joint project, linking Qianhai in Shenzhen and Hung Shui Kiu in Hong Kong, could see mainland Chinese authorities take responsibility for building the tunnel under Deep Bay in a bid to speed up construction.

Speaking on a televised interview, Chan also revealed there would likely be a station on the mainland side to help ease congestion at the existing Shenzhen Bay control point.

“We hope to proceed with a design, build and operate contract,” Chan said.

She referred to a project delivery method in which a single contractor is responsible for the design and building of a facility and its operational management after completion.

Chan added Hong Kong could entrust the mainland with building the city’s section of the tunnel under Deep Bay, also known as Shenzhen Bay.